A grassroots organisation called the Black African Defence League held a rally on 2 February outside of the US Embassy in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Ralliers demanded US military bases withdraw from the country and they denounced US imperialist policy. African Stream's Salifu Mack scored an exclusive interview at the demonstration with the group's national coordinator.

US and French military bases—from which NATO operations can originate—encircle Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, all founding members of the newly formed Alliance of Sahel States. These three countries recently experienced coups that ousted Western-aligned leaders and they have cooperated in recent months to secure their territory. Plus, they announced during a 28 January joint televised event that they plan to exit the French-approved Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The group delivered a letter on 2 February to the embassy, condemning current and future interference in the internal affairs of AES member-states. In addition, the letter denounces potential weaponisation of the United Nations against AES states. It reminded the embassy that the people that the AES represents are 'united behind their leaders.'

The letter concludes, 'We address this, first, as a warning, and we reserve the right to call on the peoples of the AES to preserve their interests, as well as throughout Africa.'

@usembassyouaga could not be reached for comment, as of press time.

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Hundreds of women gathered on 14 February in Kinshasa to demand an end to the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)’s eastern part, where clashes between the military and rebel groups have escalated. Led by Minister of Gender, Family and Children Mireille Masangu, the rally featured banners highlighting the plight of millions of victims since the conflict kicked off in 1994. The women condemned Rwanda’s alleged expansionist agenda, as well as foreign actors’ complicity. That includes that of the United States, France, Belgium, the United Kingdom, and Poland.

The crisis is dire, but remains underreported. It has been called Africa’s ‘World War,’ with more than 6 million people killed and around 7 million internally displaced. The driving force for the violence is foreign corporations’ attempts to get their hands on Congolese resources such as timber, oil, gas, diamonds, cobalt, gold, copper and coltan. Companies like Apple and Tesla are battling a lawsuit linking them to child labour exploitation.

This protest is the culmination of recent demonstrations. A few days ago, fed-up youth attacked Western installations like the French embassy. They allegedly ripped Western flags off buildings across Kinshasa and set them on fire, prompting the government to beef up security. Intelligence services reportedly arrested a few activists. Plus, the DRC’s national football team held silent protests at Africa Cup of Nations matches, as well as with players’ pleas online.

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